The global economy is still experiencing the effects of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Over the last three years economies worldwide have slowed and international trade has declined. Most importantly, the crisis has negatively affected the lives of ordinary people, creating a sense of uncertainty about the future and thus posing a direct threat to social cohesion, thus posing new challenges to political leadership. Climate change is also forcing the developed world to formulate a common strategy that will balance growth and environmental protection. The aim of the book is to examine these international trends and comprehend the transformations that take place internationally. The multi-authored work presents several accounts on the course of vital aspects of politics and economy. As a result, the contents of the book focusses on four main subjects: 1) global economic crisis and its consequences, 2) economic governance, 3) political leadership, and 4) climate change.

Konstantina E. Botsiou

Associate Professor of Modern History and International Politics in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Peloponnese, Director General of the Konstantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy

Antonis Klapsis

Adjunct Lecturer of Modern History in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Peloponnese, Head of Publications and Research Programmes at the Konstantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy